another learning curve.

[sunnybob]

I'm about to start playing with my new to me hegner variable speed scroll saw. Its about 20 years old but has had almost no use.

I know all the mechanical aspects of the machine, but need guidance on stuff like
How to tighten the blade properly and to what tension?
What would be the normal thickness of wood to cut, for example in walnut?

My first attempt will be to cut a name in relief so that it can be glued to a trinket box front panel, so once cut, how do you round over the top edges?

Thats all for the first round.
Ta.

 

[Claymore]

.......

 

[sunnybob]

I had no idea you would cut stuff that thick. i was thinking more on the lines of 5 to 10 mm.

I had a 5 minute play yesterday with a piece of black walnut, but the blade kept catching and the work jumping. The blade teeth may be too coarse for that. I have several sizes so more practice time required.

I'll have a look at that link now, thanks.

 

[linkshouse]

I had no idea you would cut stuff that thick. i was thinking more on the lines of 5 to 10 mm.

I had a 5 minute play yesterday with a piece of black walnut, but the blade kept catching and the work jumping. The blade teeth may be too coarse for that. I have several sizes so more practice time required.

I'll have a look at that link now, thanks.

I don't want to sound like a "smart arse" but you do have the blade the right way round don't you? The teeth should point downward so that it cuts on the down stroke.

Phill

 

[linkshouse]

ha ha! I didn't put "buttocks". It was a different word starting with "a" that the forum expletive filter obviously didn't like!

Actually I quite like "smart buttocks" I think I'll use that in future should the occassion merit it!

Phill

 

[novocaine]

If the piece is jumping your not holding it down hard enough.
Number of teeth (and number on the blade) depends on the thickness of the material more than anything, so the 40mm discussed above is best with a no7 (although we are lazy as a bunch so tend to stick with a 4 for everything), the 4mm stuff I've been cutting this weekend (pictures in another thread soon) was done with a no. 1 blade. to fine of a teeth and it wont be able to clear the cuttings away, to course and it will be difficult to control and won't leave a nice finish.

C for blade tightening, do it without a piece of wood in there (remember, you can now drill little holes as starting points) a few times and you'll soon get a feel for it. Best bet before cutting anything that might actually matter is to draw some straight lines and some wiggly ones a piece of scrap and practice cutting them out, I still do this when I've not used it for a while as it helps settle the eye and hand.

 

[sunnybob]

Phil, my buttocks are smarting. A half hour before reading this I played with it again and realised yes, i had it buttocks backwards.

I'm going to have to get glasses if I'm going to use blades this tiny.

Too much other stuff in progress at the mo to have a serious play, just fiddling while some glue was setting.

 

[NazNomad]

I'm going to have to get glasses if I'm going to use blades this tiny.

Glasses? I have to check my blades with one of these ...

My glasses are just for finding the workshop. :-D



p.s. You can often tell by running your finger on the teeth too. :-D

 

[novocaine]

pegus blades (not looked at others but think my metal cutting blades have it too) have a notch at the end to denote the top. bit easier to see than a no.1 tooth direction.

 

[sunnybob]

Purely operator error. I know I fitted it correctly the first time, but when I switched it on it jumped out of the holders as I hadnt tightened the top clamp. So i must have picked it and just refitted it without looking.

There are a half dozen different makes and sizes that came with the machine, might get some proper time for it later this week.

 

[linkshouse]

Phil, my buttocks are smarting. A half hour before reading this I played with it again and realised yes, i had it buttocks backwards.

We've all done it. Anyone who says not is lyin

I'm going to have to get glasses if I'm going to use blades this tiny.

Just rub you finger lightly up and down the blade and you can feel which way round it needs to go.

Phill

 

[NazNomad]

We've all done it. Anyone who says not is lyin

I've put them in with the teeth facing the back...

Although I was on my own, I still looked around the garage to make sure nobody saw it. :-D

 

[Claymore]

........

 

[sunnybob]

if you write carp (but reverse the middle two letters first) you get rubbish. literally.

 

[Claymore]

........

 

[NazNomad]

:lol: :lol: Thinking the same as me, ''this oak is flippin' hard''.


... and then, ''DOH!!!!!''